Browns vs. 49ers matchups

The homebodies meet the hombres who don’t know the way past San Jose. The Browns have won six straight in their own stadium. The 49ers, who have won two in a row at home, are 2-5 on the road.

Steve Doerschuk

The homebodies meet the hombres who don’t know the way past San Jose.
The Browns have won six straight in their own stadium. The 49ers, who have won two in a row at home, are 2-5 on the road.
How does anybody lose to a crashing Carolina team, 31-14? The 49ers managed -- in Charlotte, in their most recent road game.
In a November road game, the Niners were slapped around, 24-0, by Seattle.
That happened a week after the Browns beat Seattle, 33-30, in overtime in Cleveland.
The 49ers have had a quarterback disaster, starting with Alex Smith going on injured reserve. The result is their fifth straight losing season since reaching the 2002 playoffs.
The Browns can get to the postseason for the first time since ‘02 with a Titans loss Sunday.
Do the math. Use common sense.
The Browns haven’t proven they can win every game they should win. Even so ...
Losing this one would be a huge disappointment.
49ers LB Patrick Willis vs. Browns RB Jamal Lewis
Browns WR Braylon Edwards, a film-room junkie, is amazed by the rookie from Mississippi. “He’s a rookie, but he’s playing better probably than any (middle) linebacker in the NFL,” Edwards said. Willis is a tackler who doesn’t miss. Lewis, on the other hand, is rolling. He has averaged at least 4.2 yards per carry in four of his last five games. “You build a chemistry with your offensive line,” Lewis said.
Browns pass rush vs. Chris Weinke
Shaun Hill led the 49ers to two straight victories, posting a 101.3 passer rating. Hill came out of Maryland undrafted in 2002 and never made an NFL start until this year. The 49ers say he won’t start this one because of a back injury. Instead, former Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke will get the nod. Signed just this month, Weinke took one snap last week. The Panthers gave up on Weinke after he made 19 mostly miserable starts. If the Browns can’t make his day a wreck, they don’t deserve the playoffs.
Browns run defense vs. Frank Gore
Gore looked like Superman at Miami (Fla.) before blowing out a knee. He got back to “red S” status as a second-year 49er in 2006, rushing for 1,695 yards with a gaudy 5.4 per-carry average. He has regressed in 2007 (1,008 yards, 4.3 average), but it can be argued his team has dragged him down. His 29-carry, 138-yard game two Sundays ago basically beat Cincinnati. After the Browns allowed 130 yards to the Bengals’ Kenny Watson, there’s no reason for overconfidence.
49ers pass rush vs. Derek Anderson
The last time the 49ers played a road game, they had a chance to tee off on 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde. They sacked him twice, a virtual whiff.
Anderson has been sacked four times in his last eight games. Bryant Young, 35, still gets after it, but Anderson should have time to study how open Braylon Edwards can get in man coverage against CB Nate Clements.
49ers coverage units vs. Joshua Cribbs
For three months, opponents kicked to Joshua Cribbs with caution. This month, they have treated the Pro Bowler like the plague. The 49ers just might give the guy a chance. Their coverage teams are effective and proud, allowing 21.5 yards per kickoff return and 5.4 yards per punt return. Cribbs ranks No. 1 and No. 6 in the NFL in those areas.
Prediction: Browns, 31-17
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